(HAWAII ATHLETICS) – The No. 5 University of Hawai'i beach volleyball team successfully opened the 2018 season with a pair of wins over No. 3 UCLA and No. 17 Stanford Saturday at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex.

The Rainbow Wahine (2-0) dominated the featured match-up of the day against the third-ranked Bruins. The teams last met in an elimination match at the 2016 NCAA Championship. UH took the early lead in the dual winning in straight-sets at No. 5 and No. 3. The team of Paige Dreeuws and Hannah Zalopany defeated Savvy Simo and Chanti Holroyd, 21-15, 24-22 at No. 5 while Morgan Martin and Lea Monkhouse downed Elise Zappia and Madi Yeomans, 21-7, 21-11 at No. 3.

The No. 4 court went the distance and the Rainbow Wahine clinched the match as Ari Homayun/Amy Ozee avenged a loss to Stanford earlier in the day by outlasting Megan Muret/Izzy Carey in three sets, 21-17, 15-21, 15-13.

UH won its first match of the day with a dominating performance on three courts against the Cardinal. The No. 1, 3, and 5 flights each won in straight sets, including an impressive 21-19, 21-18 win by Kan and Weaver over Kathryn Plummer and Sunny Villapando the clinched the dual match at the top of the order.

The Cardinals lone point came in a battle at the No. 4 flight as the pair of Kate Formico and Courtney Bowen fought off four match points in Set 2 before rallying for a 15-21, 23-21, 16-14 win over Homayun and Ozee.

Day 2 of the Rainbow Wahine Classic continues Sunday with UH taking on UCLA at 1 p.m. and Stanford at 4 p.m.